Chapter 14
Daniel
“Earth to Daniel,” said Brody, waving his hand in front of my face.
I broke out of whatever trance I was under, blinking a few times as I remembered where I was. It shouldn’t have been hard to forget I was prepping for one of our biggest board meetings, but my mind had been anywhere else but here lately.
It was like an audio recording had been jammed inside my head, and all that played over and over again was Addison’s voice.
“I’m pregnant. I’m pregnant. I’m pregnant.”
I shook my head, hoping the words would get the hint and make their exit.
“Sorry, bro,” I said.
“What the hell is going on with you?” asked Brody, settling back in the armchair across from my desk, crossing his arms as he studied me cautiously.
“I didn’t get much sleep.” I shrugged.
It was partly true. Partly a lie. I hadn’t been sleeping very well, but I also hadn’t been able to focus on work or anything since Addison had dropped that bomb on me.
“And what was your excuse yesterday? And the day before?” he asked.
“You know me. I’ve just been having fun.”
“Really? Because I haven’t seen you in the tabloids…”
“That’s a good thing,” I said defensively.
“Yeah, well, I’ve also run into Freddy a few times, and he said you’d been declining his calls.”
I could see he wasn’t letting this go. I had to come up with something, but I didn’t want to share the news of me possibly being a father with my brother, or Freddy, or anyone. Not until I had everything figured everything out.
“Maybe I’m seeing someone,” I lied. “Can you get back to minding your business?”
Brody raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Fine, as long as you get your damn head in the game. You’ve missed deadlines, shown up late for meetings, and everything I’m saying is going in one ear and out the other.”
“What the hell? Are you keeping tabs on me?”
“Someone has to.”
I was annoyed, but he was right. I had to get my head on straight, especially for today’s board meeting with our shareholders. When did Brody become the sensible one?
“Okay,” I said. “I’m here.”
Brody gave me an affirmative nod before sliding over a stack of papers. I looked through them and hopelessly tried to focus, or at least look like I was.
I couldn’t go on like this much longer when my company’s reputation was at stake—I had to talk to Addison and know what was going on. I hated how we had left things after our phone call and I’d been kicking myself for how I had responded ever since.
For the past two weeks, I had tried emailing and calling, but she ignored my emails and calls. I knew I had hurt her by questioning her and my legitimacy as the father. I just panicked. It didn’t seem real, so I questioned it, and insulted her in the end.
Deep down, I felt like I knew what kind of girl Addison was.
That was what drew me to her. She was different.
Driven. Caring. Had no idea who I was, and I wasn’t sure she cared.
She didn’t seem like the type to sleep around.
I was a one-off. I got lucky. But now I had to fix things, especially considering I might be a father.
“The goals for the upcoming year look good. Have any of the shareholders raised any concerns?” I said, stacking the papers neatly and handing them back to Brody.
“Not that I know of, but you never know what they could spring on us today.”
I nodded. “We’ll be ready.”
And I prayed we would be.
I checked my watch. The meeting was to start in just a few minutes.
“We better head to the meeting room,” I said, standing from my chair.
Before following Brody out of the door, I refreshed my inbox in hopes there would be something from Addison. I made another attempt to get hold of her this morning, but there was nothing from her.
The board meeting went surprisingly well.
The shareholders had no real concerns. Maybe it was because my face hadn’t been splashed over the morning papers in a while, or the fact that the paparazzi had become bored with me.
I had to admit it was a nice change for me, even though it also meant I wasn’t getting laid.
I was impressed with Brody and how he came prepared. For how much I doubted my little brother sometimes, I never forgot why he was COO. I should have a little more faith in him.
After the meeting, Brody slapped me on the back enthusiastically. “That went really well, bro,” he said.
“Until next year,” I said.
“We should celebrate! Maybe head to Bemelman’s for lunch?”
The name alone made my breath catch. I hadn’t been there since Addison strolled in and changed my entire life.
“Can we do a raincheck? I have somewhere to be.”
Brody looked disappointed. “Tomorrow night?” he suggested.
“Tomorrow it is.”
I watched Brody walk down the hallway to his office before I stopped at Margaret’s desk.
“May I help you, Mr. Jacobs?”
“I was hoping you could find the address for one of our associates.”
“Which one?” she asked, placing her pale pink-painted fingertips on the keyboard.
“Addison Heartly.”
A few clicks of the keyboard sounded.
“Ah, yes. The Leading to Learn office. I can write the address down for you.”
She reached for a post-it.
“Um, no. Actually, I was in need of her home address.”
Margaret looked at me curiously before looking back at her computer screen. She scrolled the screen and then back up.
“I’m sorry. I don’t have her personal information on file.”
“Well, can you find it?” I asked, drumming my fingers on the desktop.
“I could try…” she replied.
“Thank you. I’ll be in my office.”
I walked down the hallway and into my office.
I sat in my chair and refreshed my inbox again.
There was still nothing from Addison. I scrolled through all of my sent emails to her and suddenly felt embarrassed.
There were thirteen total. All sitting and staring at me as reminders of how badly I had screwed this up.
I sighed and looked out the window. I felt desperate and out of control. Two feelings I despised.
A knock sounded at my door.
“Come in,” I said eagerly.
Margaret stepped inside holding a bright yellow post-it. I felt hopeful for the first time in a long time.
“I have that address for you, Mr. Jacobs,” she said.
She held out the sticky piece of paper proudly. I took it from her and read the words silently. I guessed I was heading to Brooklyn.
“Thank you, Margaret. I’ll be heading out now. Please hold my calls.”
“Of course, sir,” she said before slipping out the door.
I grabbed my jacket, sliding it on over my shoulders before heading out the door. Downstairs at the curb, Armand waited. I wondered if he ever did anything else besides wait on me.
“Where to, Mr. Jacobs?” he asked as he opened the back door.
“Brooklyn,” I replied, sliding into the car.
Once Armand was up front, I read him the address and sat back as he put the car into drive. I couldn’t remember the last time I had gone to Brooklyn. It wasn’t far, but felt like a whole other world from the high rises and wealth of the upper East Side.
Forty-five minutes later, we pulled up to a small, brick apartment building. Armand walked around the side of the car and opened my door. I thanked him as I stepped out onto the curb. I looked down at the address in my hand. Apartment 2B.
I noticed a pizza delivery guy exiting the building and jogged up to catch the door to let myself inside. I walked down the hallway toward the stairs and noticed a fluffy white cat at my feet. As I stopped to greet her, she weaved her way between my legs.
“Hello there,” I said, bending down to pet her.
“Beatrice!” I heard someone call.
I looked up and saw an older woman clutching a fluffy pink robe around herself, her gray hair rolled tightly in pink sponge rollers.
“Beatrice. There you are!” she said, walking over.
I picked up the cat and stood.
“Cute cat,” I said, extending my arms out to give her cat back.
The woman took it and cradled it before looking at me. I noticed her eyes widen slightly. She looked me up and down, her mouth open in surprise.
She scrunched her eyebrows together. “Aren’t you…”
“I really should be going,” I said.
I headed toward the stairs and began climbing them. I could hear the woman mumbling to herself. It wasn’t unusual to be recognized, but I didn’t need anyone knowing I was in Brooklyn or what business I was on.
I walked down the hallway and stopped in front of apartment 2B.
I took a deep breath before knocking. My nerves caused waves of nausea to roll through my stomach.
The last time I had seen Addison was when she was sleeping in my bed.
I didn’t know how much I would end up missing her.
Missing someone was not something I did.
I heard the numerous locks of the door click before it finally opened. To my disappointment, it wasn’t Addison standing there. I checked the address on the post-it. This was the place.
“May I help you?” asked the woman standing there. She was short with a brown angled bob that hit just above her shoulders. Judging by the scowl on her face, she didn’t look too pleased to see me.
“I’m looking for Addison Heartly,” I said.
“Heart’s not here right now.”
“Heart?”
“Yeah, that’s what her close friends call her.”
Ah. I was dealing with the protective best friend. Fuck me.
“Well, will you let her know I stopped by?”
“And you are?” she asked, even though her icy stare made it clear she knew exactly who I was.
“Daniel Jacobs.”
“I don’t think she wants to see you.”
“Please.”
“No. I think you should go.”
I desperately wanted to call out Addison’s name. Heart’s name. Whatever she was called. I just wanted to see her. But clearly she didn’t want to see me.
She started to close the door.
“Wait. Please,” I said.
Not knowing what else to do, I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out my checkbook and a pen. The girl eyed me suspiciously as I began writing a check with a whole lot of zeroes. I ripped it from my checkbook and handed it to her.
Her gaze scanned over the check and her eyes widened as they landed on the amount.
“Please, make sure she gets this. I want to help. She can do whatever she wants with the money.”
The girl looked from the check to me, as if she was struggling to find the words. She stepped inside the apartment and closed the door, leaving me standing outside like a complete idiot. I kicked at the floor as I turned and started walking down the hallway.
“Wait!” I heard a voice call out.
I turned around and saw her friend walking swiftly toward me. She pushed a piece of glossy paper into my chest.
“If you want to be involved, you need to be sure,” she said sternly.
I looked down at the piece of paper and saw it was an ultrasound. Addison’s ultrasound. Our baby’s first picture. It was real. So fucking real.
I stared at the picture speechless, for I didn’t know how long before realizing I was standing alone in the hallway. I carefully slid the photo in my jacket pocket and somehow walked down the stairs. My legs felt like they were going to give out on me every step of the way.